tert-butyl is a special substituent that Dr. Lavelle mentioned in his lecture -- it generally looks like a plus sign (+). The tert and the butyl go together. I don't think he ever explained how it is named, just that tert-butyl is a substituent that we should know.

On Friday in class Prof Lavelle introdued the equation w=-nRT(vf/vi). You use this equation in this instance since the pressure is not constant and becuase it is a reversible reaction. Those are the conditions for using this equation. If you use this equation, you should get the correct answer.

Also, in the case of atoms attached to a ring structure, the polarity differs. For example, if there is a ring structure, and there is a chlorine attached to carbon atoms directly across from one another, the dipole moments cancel and the molecule is non polar. However, if the chlorine atoms are not...

I think we should know the general shape of the molecule - such as what a tetrahedral looks like - but we don't need to be able to draw it. He just wants us to be able to take a molecule and state its shape, without any picture or specifics.

I have the same problem! I haven't taken Chemistry since my sophomore year in high school. I found working through ALL of the fundamental homework problems to be very beneficial. It triggered my memory of some concepts I learned in high school and also reminded me of concepts that I had struggled wi...